Decapitated – Hallucinations Of Death Metal

Poland's Decapitated are known for being the death metal who's members started out really young. Apart from that, they are also known for being one of the most brutal and aggressive death metal bands out there, and among Poland's leading death acts, along with such stalwarts as Vader and Behemoth. With 4 albums under their belts, the last of which released last year, we though it was time to chat with the band's guitarist and main writer, Vogg.

Hey man, I'd like to start with current news, I understand you just finished some tours, what kind of show's did you do, and with which bands?

Hello Alon. Almost two months ago we finished our American tour. That was 3 months of playing, with something like 4 days off only. We did almost 80 gigs with such cool dudes as Krisiun, Six Feet Under, Abysmal Dawn, Hypocrisy, Suffocation and Fear Factory, plus a thousand local bands.

How did they receive the band's music?

I know that people from Suffocation and Abyssal downright liked like our music. I can't say what's the opinion from Fear Factory and Six Feet Under thought about us, but I think they like our stuff.

You've changed vocalists before the last album, how did Covan manage with the earlier stuff Sauron sang?

He is doing well. Covan is a really talented dude. He needs just a few more shows to practice You know.

A bit more about Sauron's leaving, why did he leave the band?

He was not interesting in touring and screaming In a metal band anymore, He is now working with some classical music orchestra in Krakow.

One of the best known facts about the band is that you started out at a really young age, do you remember the exact moment when you decided to play death metal?

I don't remember exact, but that was In 96 when we decide to play music in a band. We all were listening to a lot of death and thrash metal so we decided to walk that way. And yes, we were really young, I was 15,sauron 15, witek 12 and martin was 13 hahahaha.

What kind of an influence did you take from the older Polish death bands, such as Vader?

I'm not a big fan of old Polish death metal, Vader and Hate were the only polish death metal groups who had a big influence on us, Another big death and grind influence, which was the best Polish death metal band ever (in my opinion) is Yattering, but its not really old stuff. I was listening also to a lot of Polish thrash and hardcore bands such a Acid drinkers, Kat, Proletaryat, illusion: really cool stuff.

Your first album was immediately released through quite a big label, Earache, how did you land that contract?

The story was like this: my friend from my old band Lux Occulta, Jaro was a journalist in thrash ’em all magazine. The Editor of this newspaper is also a manager, .Jaro gave him our demo tape and he sent us a contract, so he became our manager. Next was when this dude sent our demo to earache, they listened it and decided to sign us.

Earache records have been accused a lot of times in the past by bands that were not Happy with their treatment by the label, what experience did you have with them?

I can't say that earache is big label, they used to be a couple of years ago, you know. When death metal was on the top and they had bands like a bolt thrower, morbid angel, and carcass. You can see what earache offer now, it's not the same label. And they don’t give good support for bands in my opinion.

In what ways was your second release, Nihility, different than your debut album?

I don’t know what how to describe it, but yea, that’s true, Nihility is very much a different album. It's my favorite; I think this album gave death metal music something new and fresh. This album was a new step in our music.

A year after your last album, Organic Hallucinations was released, what do you think about it? Are you happy with the results?

I really like this album, I don’t' want to say that it's our best, but I think we are doing good some strong Stuff in it. I know that quite a lot of people liked it, I saw a lot of really good reviews .We play a couple the of new songs live and I can say that people really enjoy them too, So I can say that that I more than happy with it, a year after it was released.

It seems to be that Poland is quite a strong country for metal, with such classic acts as Turbo and Acid Drinkers, and especially for death metal, as with bands such as yours and Behemoth, why do you think that is?

Yeah, Poland has a really good metal scene, and it is one thing that was always like that, why? Maybe because 60 years ago we had a fucking holocaust here in Poland, millions of people were killed because of fascism, after that shit we were under the wave of the communist system. Because of this past Poland is a poor country and we have a 90% catholic population, Can U imagine it?

Believe me its really hard to be independent here and have your own opinion, different that 90 % society. So what I want to say is that maybe because of this things are what they are, young people here are more determined, angry and strong and you can hear it in the music, because music is like a life, you can hear our lives in our music.

Poland is also known for having quite a large number of nationalistic acts and even racist bands, what is your take on the subject?

I don’t know a lot about that. I was just heard something about these kind of bands here in Poland, I hate fucking racism and I hate people who are not tolerant. Fuck this shit.

Being the only guitarist in the band, how do you manage sound wise when doing a live show?

I don't have a problem with this, A lot of bands are doing the same, If you know how to get good sound from the guitar, amp and your hand, then you don't need a second guitar, believe me.

Do you write all the material for the band?

Almost. Witek (drums) writes 3 songs and he also does a lot of drum riffs, along with with my riffs. But I do almost everything.

Musically "Organic" has been quite different for the band, how do you view the band's music for the next release?

Every Decapitated album is different, I'm sure that next release will be something New for the band. I have couple of New riffs and I want to do something really heavy angry and deep, and also something in some sick ambient style. We will see, it always depends on how my personal life is going you know…